Research article

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Thermosetting polymers are widely used as industrial materials due to good heat resistance, dimensional stability and chemical resistance. There is a longstanding and widespread interest in designing novel polymer networks, and utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) opens up new frontiers to meet this challenge by creating new materials. For thermosetting polymers, ILs offer many advantages, either as catalytic agents, plasticizers, conducting additives, or porogens. Furthermore, ILs show rich structural diversity and can be incorporated into a polymer matrix to achieve better final properties. This review emphasizes the urgent need for understanding the role, efficiency and perspectives of an innovative class of components, namely ILs with the potential to impact across many areas of thermosetting polymers. To avoid ambiguity and make the review selfreading, basic ideas about the application of ILs in thermosetting polymers are first outlined.